Indigenous Cyclical Assessment Framework

Mouse over the Cree words to find the English translations.
Click on the crests for information on university grading descriptors.

Inspiring Becoming Emerging Beginning The Learner Mikiskāw | Freeze-up Mithoskamin | Break-up Yellow Spring Child Muchikesikanook East Red Summer Youth Sawunohk South Black Fall Adult Apichikewetinos West White Winter Elder Kewetinohk North

During Freeze-up the change in season can make travel on the rivers uncertain while the ice is forming and the weather storming.
Consider the moments of uncertainty in our own lives when sometimes support may be needed. Visit the Student Wellness Centre to find support for physical and mental health care.

During Break-up the change in season can bring longer days and warm weather. The birch sap is gathered and birds lay their eggs.
Consider what skills or knowledge you may need to gather. Visit the Student Learning Services to find out more about their academic supports.

Exceptional | 90-100
A superior performance with consistent strong evidence of:
  • a comprehensive, incisive grasp of the subject matter;
  • an ability to make insightful critical evaluation of the material given;
  • an exceptional capacity for original, creative and/or logical thinking;
  • an excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts fluently.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Exceptional | 90-100
A superior performance with consistent strong evidence of:
  • a comprehensive, incisive grasp of subject matter;
  • an ability to make insightful critical evaluation of information;
  • an exceptional capacity for original, creative and/or logical thinking;
  • an exceptional ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts fluently;
  • an exceptional ability to analyze and solve difficult problems related to subject matter.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Very Good to Excellent | 80-89
A very good performance with evidence of:
  • a comprehensive grasp of subject matter;
  • an ability to make sound critical evaluation of information;
  • a very good to excellent capacity for original, creative and/or logical thinking;
  • a very good to excellent ability to organize, to analyze, to synthesize, to integrate ideas, and to express thoughts fluently;
  • a very good to excellent ability to analyze and solve difficult problems related to subject matter.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Satisfactory to Good | 70-79
A satisfactory to good performance with evidence of:
  • a substantial knowledge of subject matter;
  • a satisfactory to good understanding of the relevant issues and satisfactory to good familiarity with the relevant literature and technology;
  • satisfactory to good capacity for logical thinking;
  • some capacity for original and creative thinking;
  • a satisfactory to good ability to organize, to analyze, and to examine the subject matter in a critical and constructive manner;
  • a satisfactory to good ability to analyze and solve moderately difficult problems related to the subject matter.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Satisfactory to Good | 70-79
A satisfactory to good performance with evidence of:
  • a substantial knowledge of subject matter;
  • a satisfactory to good understanding of the relevant issues and satisfactory to good familiarity with the relevant literature and technology;
  • satisfactory to good capacity for logical thinking;
  • some capacity for original and creative thinking;
  • a satisfactory to good ability to organize, to analyze, and to examine the subject matter in a critical and constructive manner;
  • a satisfactory to good ability to analyze and solve moderately difficult problems related to the subject matter.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Good | 70-79
A good performance with evidence of:
  • a substantial knowledge of the subject matter;
  • a good understanding of the relevant issues and a good familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;
  • some capacity for original, creative and/or logical thinking;
  • a good ability to organize, to analyze and to examine the subject material in a critical and constructive manner.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Poor | 60-69
A generally weak performance, but with some evidence of:
  • a basic grasp of the subject matter;
  • some understanding of the basic issues;
  • some familiarity with the relevant literature & techniques;
  • some ability to develop solutions to moderately difficult problems related to the subject matter;
  • some ability to examine the material in a critical & analytical manner.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem
Satisfactory | 60-69
A generally satisfactory and intellectually adequate performance with evidence of:
  • an acceptable basic grasp of the subject material;
  • a fair understanding of the relevant issues;
  • a general familiarity with the relevant literature and techniques;
  • an ability to develop solutions to moderately difficult problems related to the subject material;
  • a moderate ability to examine the material in a critical and analytical manner.

University of Saskatchewan (n.d.). Understanding your grades.
Retrieved from https://students.usask.ca/academics/grading/grading-system.php#GradingSystem